Electric controller.



No. 733,566. PATENTBD JULY 14, 1903. A. SUNDH.

ELECTRIC CONTROLLER.

APPLIOATIOH FILED MAR. 16, 1903.

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No. 733,566. PATENTED JULY 14, 1903. A. SUNDH.

ELECTRIC CONTROLLER- Y APPLICATION rinsn IAB. 16. 1903. 4 no xo'nm. 2 sums-sum 2.

WETNESSESL INVENTORI 2 7 WPOQH? ATTORNEY No. reassess.

Fatented July 14, 1909.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST SUNDH, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC CONTROLLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,566, dated; July 14, 1903.

Application filed March 16, 1903, Serial No. 148.054; (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, AUGUST SUNDH, of Yonkers, Westchester county, New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Controllers, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of my present invention is the provision of a form of switch for electric circuits wherein a momentary current accomplishes the desired movement and wherein the current operating the switch is automatically and positively opened immediately after such operation.

In its preferred form my invention carries out this end by means which prevent deficient or uncertain action due to accidental jarring, and consequently my switch is particularly well adapted to be used on vehicles or in other localities where it will necessarily be subjected to vibration.

Another object of my invention is the production of means including a switch such as above mentioned whereby a given circuit may be controlled automatically to operate in correspondence with the fluctuations of pressure occurring in a given fluid medium. By the use-of my invention the alternative action of my switch is made to depend upon relatively small changes in the governing pressure and to be independent of ordinary jars or Vibrations. This feature of my present invention is of great utility in the proper maintenance of air or other pressure for brakes and for automatically preserving the approximately constant level of liquids, as in water-supply.

My invention also has relation to certain improvements in details, which will be more fully set forth in the claims hereto appended.

In a preferred form my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of my mechanism as used for preserving an approximately constant pressure, certain electrical details being shown in diagram. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the plane 9000 in Fig. 1, certain parts being removed; and Fig. 3 is a side view of a preferred form of magnetic snap mechanism which I prefer to use in my device.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the entire controlling mechanism placed in a box, which may be of any appropriate form and may be closed in any desired manner.

In that embodiment of my invention which is shown in the accompanying drawings a switch-lever 1 is made to open or close an electric circuitas, for instance, by connecting the terminals 2 and 3-the movement of said lever in one direction or the other being produced by the solenoids t and 5, respectively, acting upon the movable core 6. The lever 1 is pivoted, as at 7, and is directly operated by means of the backwardly-extending arm 8, pivoted to the core 6, as at 9. The two friction-springs 10 and 11 are preferably used to secure the lever 1 in one or the other extreme position by impinging upon the extremity of the arm ,8. This-is shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 1 for the two extreme positions. The selection of one or the other solenoid 4 or 5 'for operation of the lever 1 is accomplished in the form shown in the drawings as follows: The conductor 12 branches at 13, one branch 14 leading to the solenoid 5 and the other branch 15 to the solenoid 4:. The opposite ends of the two solenoid-coils lead out by wires 16 and 17, respectively, to the metal plates 19 and 18, mounted upon an appropriate insulating-base, such as the slate slab 20. Pivoted upon these metal plates are two metallic bell-crank arms 21 22, carrying carbon terminals 23 24, facing each other on opposite sides of a movable terminal 25. This last terminal is directly connected to the outgoing conductor 26. The carbon terminals 23 and 24 are pressed toward each other by means of springs 27 and 28, abutting upon the arms carrying said terminals, and the extreme inward movement of these arms is regulated by the screw-stops 29 and 30, respectively. The upwardly-extending arms of the bell-crank levers 21 and 22 are provided with adjustable insulated screW-abutments 31 and 32, arranged on opposite sides of the lever 1 and in its path of movement.

The operation of the parts thus far described is as follows, it being understood that the movable terminal 25 is raised or lowered by any desired means, so as to make contact with one or the other of the carbon terminals 23 24: On raising the terminal 25 against 24.- circuit will be completed as follows: in at wires. 12 and 14, the solenoid 5, through wire 16, arm 22, and terminals 24 and 25, and thence out by wire 26. This energizes the solenoid 5, pulis down the core 6, and opens the switch at 2 3. The lever 1 in moving backward strikes the insulated screw 32, and thus pulls the carbon terminal 24 smartly up and away from the terminal 25, breaking the circuit above described. The switch therefore acts automatically to break its own operating-circuit. Of course as the lever 1 moves backward the upwardly-extending arm of the bell-crank lever 21 is liberated, and the spring 27 acts to raise the terminal 23 in readiness for downward movement of the movable terminal 25. When this downward movement occurs, the solenoid 4 is energized and the lever 1 closes circuit at 2 3, freeing the bellcrank lever 22 and acting through the insulated abutment 31 to depress the terminal 23, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and break the operating-circuit again. .The stops 29 and 30 are so adjusted as to make their respective terminals 23 24 assume when free positions within the exterior limits of movement of the terminal 25. Thus when contact with 25 occurs, as described, the carbon terminals are moved a short distance against the pressure of the springs 27 28, so as to insure good firm contact despite any jarring of the apparatus.

In the preferred apparatus shown the abovedescribed automatic switch is applied to the control of any electric motor 33, although it is within my invention to control any electric circuit in the manner described. The motor 33 is preferably controlled indirectly, as illustrated, by letting the lever 1 control, in the first instance, a circuit through a solenoid 34, whose core operates the lever 35 of any desired form of controlling-switch 36. VVhen the solenoid is energized, it cuts out the resistances 37 and starts the motor 33. The weight 38 or its equivalent acts to return the lever 35 to the position shown in dotted lines, opening the circuit of the motor and stopping it. By using this indirect control failure of current in the operating system acts automatically to open the circuit of the motor 33.

In the embodiment of my invention herein illustrated the motor 33 is started and stopped automatically in correspondence with certain prearranged variations in fluid-pressu re. This motor may be used to operate pumps producing the pressure in question, as in watersupply or air-brake systems, or it may be applied to any other purpose wherein control of such a motor in correspondence with a given fluid-pressure is desirable.

Indeed, my invention covers the control of any form of motor by means of the solenoid 34 in correspondence with variations in fluidpressure; nor is my invention limited to this indirect control of the motor, or the opening and closing of circuit at 2 3 in correspondence with chan es in fluid-pressure may be used for any other appropriate purposesas, for instance, for signalswithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

The means preferably employed for producing action, as described, in correspondence with changes in fluid-pressure are substantially as follows: Within an appropriate chamber 38 is placed a fluid-tight elastic diaphragm 39, and the fluid, the pressure of which is to control the apparatus, is admitted under said diaphragm, as by the pipe 40. A rod 41 is attached at its lower end to the diaphragm in a well-known manner, (or in some cases it may merely rest on said diaphragm,) the upper end being guided in a sleeve 42, preferably attached to the side of the inclosing box 43. The upward movement of the rod 41 is preferably limited by means of the adjusting-screw 44, and injurious distortion of the diaphragm by accidental excessive pressure is thereby prevented. Upon the rod 41 is placed an abutment 45, preferably adjustable in its position on the rod, while against this abutment the coiled spring 46 operates against the fluid-pressure under the diaphragm. This coiled spring is preferably steadied by the sleeve 42 within it at its upper end and by the cup shape of the abutment 45, within which said coil is placed. At 47 is pivoted the relay-switch arm 48, carrying at its free extremity the movable terminal 25. The arm 48, or at least its outer end 49, is made of iron or steel, and the terminal 25 is held in the jaws 49 by means of the insulation 50.

As shown on a large scale in Fig. 3, an electromagnet 51 is provided with poles 52, projecting, respectively, over and under the jaws 49, which hold the terminal 25. The poles 52 are preferably provided with adjustable screw pole-pieces 53, projecting toward each other and toward theintermediate jaws 49. These pole-pieces 53 serve as abutment-s, against one or the other of which said jaws come in contact when the terminal 25 is to be moved for operation of the relay-switch, as heretofore described.

The Whole or a part of the core of the magnet 51 is made of steelsufficiently hard to retain magnetism when circuit through said magnet. is interrupted. I prefer to make the screw-tops 53 of hard steel for this purpose; but my invention comprises any disposition or location of steel in the magnet. Indeed, for some purposes the electromagnet 51 may be replaced by a permanent steel magnet destitute of coils; but I prefer to use the electromagnet shown and to place its coils in series with the wire 12 and solenoids 4 and 5, respectively. This arrangement insures permanence of the magnetism required in the pole-pieces 53.

The lever 48 between its pivot and the jaws 49 is straddled by an operating-fork carried by the arm 54 on the rod 41. The opposite arms of this fork are preferably provided with adjustable abutment-screws 55 56, while surrounding said screws and compressed between each side of the fork and the lever 48 are spiral springs 57 58.

ceases The operation of the switch-lever in corre-' spondence with variations in fluid-pressure is as follows, it being assumed that said switch controls a motor 33, employed to create the pressurein question,although,as above pointed out, this assumption is not essential of any phase of my broad invention: Supposing the switch-lever 1 to be in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the motor 33 to be at work increasing the fluid-pressure in the pipe 40, the relative positions of the different parts of my apparatus will be that illustrated. As the pressure of the fluid increases the diaphragm slowly raises the rod 41 against the pressure of the spring 46, compressing the spring 58 between the lower branch of the fork on the arm 54 and the lever 48 of the relay-switch. During this action the permanent magnetism of the pole-piece 53 under the jaws 49 will keep the lever 48 from moving upward under the pressure of the compressed spring 58 and will further serve to insure this lever from displacement by any vibration to which the mechanism may be subjected. When the diaphragm 39 is raised sufficiently to bring the adjustable abutment 56 in contact with the under side of the lever 48, further movement pushes the lever away from the magnetic pole 53, and the spring 58 is free to cause a quick snap action of the switch, throwing the jaws 49 up against the upper pole-piece 53 and bringing the terminal 25 against the contact-piece 24. This causes the solenoid5to beenergized,andthemainswitchlever 1 is thus thrown to the right, opening the circuit at 2 3 and immediately opening the operating-circuit at 24 25, as heretofore described. The motor thereupon ceases to operate and remains inoperative until the pressure under the diaphragm 39 falls sufficiently for any reason to allow the upper screw-abutment 55 on the switch-operating fork to act upon the upper side of the lever 48, in which case the terminal 25 is snapped down against the contact-piece 23, and the lever 1 is operated to again start the motor 33.

By the use of the apparatus above described I am able to let the diaphragm or its equivalent work freely and without other resistance than that of the spring 46, save for the moment when contact is produced on one side or the other of the fork on the arm 54. This makes it possible to use weaker poles at 53 than would have to be used were the fluidpressure to be constantly active in tending to withdraw the lever 48 and the jaws 49 from said poles. Another advantage of this construction is that I am enabled to make my apparatus operative between extremes of pressure only very slightly different from 1 each other. I have succeeded in controlling a given pressure of fluid within a margin of a quarter of a pound to the square inch by the use of apparatus made in accordance with my invention.

In the form shownthe electromagnet 51, whereby the permanent magnetism of the poles 53 is maintained, is placed in series with the operating-solenoids 4 and 5. By this expedient I am enabled to apply a reinforcementto the power of the poles 53 each time the device is operated, and thus make sure that these poles are not ultimately weakened, so as to destroy the adjustment and delicate operation of my apparatus.

I am not to be understood as limiting myself to the details of the device as herein shown and described, as many of these may be varied by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my present invention.

hat I claim is- 1. In combination with circuit-controlling mechanism actuated correspondingly to pressure variations, means for magnetically restraining said mechanism from operation until said pressure attains a desired point,means for positively overcoming said restraint and means for subsequently and independently causing said mechanism to operate.

7 2. A movable circuit-controlling lever, a circuit-terminalin the path thereof, means for magnetically retaining said lever in definite position, means for moving said lever against said magnetic attraction, and means subsequently and independently acting upon said lever to throw the same into contact with said terminal.

3. A movable circuit-controlling switch-lever, a circuit-terminal in the path thereof, an armature on said lever, a magnet adapted to hold said armature in contact with its pole, means for moving said lever from said pole, and means subsequently and independently acting on said lever to throw the same into contact with said terminal.

4. A movable circuit-controlling lover, a circuit-terminal in the path thereof, means for magnetically retaining said lever in definite position, means for positively moving said lever against said magnetic attraction, and a spring interposed between said lever and said positive moving means; whereby said spring is first compressed against said lever held by magnetic attraction, and thereafter when said attraction is overcome by the positive means aforesaid, said spring operates to throw said lever into contact with said circuit-terminal.

5. In combination with a device moved by fluid-pressure, a circuit-closing switch-lever, a circuit-terminal, a spring on said device bearing against said lever and means operating to hold said lever against the pressure of said spring, but capable of being overcome by the subsequent positive action of said device upon said lever to move the same into contact with said terminal.

6. The combination of the fluid-controlled piston 39, rod 41, swinging switch-lever 4S, magnet 52 having a pole in inductive proximity to said lever, arm 54 on rod 41 and carrying said adjustable abutment 56 and a spring 58 constructed to bear on said lever.

7. A main circuit-closin g lever, two electromagnets adapted to move the same in relatively opposite directions, a second circuitclosing lever, two movable terminals in the path of said last-named lever in circuit respectively with said electromagnets and means controlled by variations in fluid-pressure forcausing said last-named lever to move into contact with one or the other of said terminals; in combination with means controlled by said main circuit-closing lever for moving the terminals in circuit with the actuatingelectromagnet to break circuit through said electromagnet.

8. A main circuit-closing lever, two electromagnets adapted to move the same in relatively opposite directions, a second circuitclosing lever, two movable terminals in the path of said last-named lever in circuit respectively with said electromagnets and means controlled by variations in fluid-pressure for causing said last-named lever to move into contact with one or the other of said terminals, in combination with means controlled by said main circuit-closing lever for moving the terminals in circuit with the actuatingelectromagnet to break circuit through said electromagnet and means for holding said main lever in its final position.

9. A main switch-lever, an electromagnet for moving the same, and in circuit with said electromagnet a switch mechanism comprising a movable carrier extending into the path of said lever, a terminal on said carrier, and an independently-controlled movable terminal; the said terminals operating by their contact to establish circuit through said electromagnet.

10. A main switch-lever, an electromagnet for moving the same, and in circuit with said electromagnet, a switch mechanism comprising a pivoted bell-crank carrier having one arm extending into the path of said lever, a terminal on said carrier and an independently-controlled movable terminal; the said terminals operating by their cont-act to establish circuit through said electromagnet.

11. In combination with a switch-lever and a reciprocating rod for its operation, an arm on said rod extending across said lever, a spring compressed between said lever and said arm and an electromagnet constructed to hold said lever in one extreme position against pressure of said spring.

12. In a snap-switch, a swinging lever having jaws of magnetic material, a magnet-pole against which said jaws are adapted to abut and a conducting-terminal in said jaws and separated therefrom by insulating material.

13. In a snap-switch, a swinging lever having jaws of magnetic material, a magnet-pole against which said jaws are adapted to abut, a terminal in said jaws separated therefrom by insulating material, a spring, means for causing compression of said spring against said swinging lever and a thrusting device carried by said last-named means and adapted to move against said swinging lever.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUST SUNDI'I.

Witnesses:

I. A. VAN WART, WM. I-LSIEGMAN. 

